Environmental Science BS and Environmental Studies BA (BA, BS)

Program Overview

Binghamton University’s Environmental Studies Program seeks to prepare each student for life as a citizen and as a leader, who is equipped to understand and address the complex environmental challenges facing our communities, nations, and planet. Graduates of our program (with either a BA in Environmental Studies or a BS in Environmental Science) will be able to tackle environmental and societal concerns in four critical areas.

• Critical thinking skills for understanding and confronting problems that involve the intersection between the natural and human worlds at multiple scales
• Fundamental knowledge about the three E’s of sustainability: environment, economics, and equity
• Methodological training for generating and analyzing data needed to investigate, explain, and mitigate environmental issues and problems
• Communication abilities to share information with technical and non-technical audiences

Check out our student outcomes.

Students who pursue a BS in environmental science or a BA in environmental studies may specialize in ecosystems, earth systems, economic systems or sustainability systems.

Degrees Offered

• BA in Environmental Science: Earth Systems
• BS in Environmental Science: Earth Systems
• BA in Environmental Studies: Economic Systems
• BA in Environmental Studies: Ecosystems
• BS in Environmental Science: Ecosystems
• BS in Environmental Science: Environmental Systems
• BA in Environmental Studies: Sustainable Systems

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

• Internship opportunities are available at a variety of local agencies such as the Broome County Health Department, Broome County Parks and Recreation, Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments (VINES), New York Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NYNEST) and Binghamton University Nature Preserve.
• Students can intern in their hometown, county, state and federal agencies such as the National Park Service or the EPA, or with nonprofit groups.
• Students also have numerous opportunities to work in the field. Students do fieldwork as part of labs, discussion section or research projects.

Coursework

Some courses to consider in your first year:

• ENVI 101 - Humans & Ecological Environ

  Multidisciplinary approach to study of relationships between environment and humans, from ecological perspective. Ecological principles, including material cycling, ecological relationships and succession. Scope and direction of human impact on biosphere, exemplified by population, agricultural practices, nutrition, forestry and wildlife. Consideration of environmental economics, policy and ethics. Offered regularly. 4 credits Levels: Undergraduate

• ENVI 201 - Humans & Physical Environ

  Interdisciplinary approach to the study of how humans interact with their environment, emphasizing environmental geology and environmental chemistry. Topics include: 1) human use of energy: sources, environmental consequences (including air pollution), socio-economic aspects; 2) natural hazards and their impact on human activities; 3) use of water, its contamination and waste disposal; 4) introduction to land use and environmental planning. Prerequisite: ENVI 101 or BIOL 114. Offered regularly. 4 credits Levels: Undergraduate

• ENVI 140 - Intro Environmental Chemistry

  Understanding air and water pollution, soil contamination, climate change, and other important sustainability issues requires a basic understanding of the environmental chemistry at work. This course introduces basic chemistry principles including atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, reactions, thermodynamics, acid/base, equilibrium and oxidation/reduction – and applies these concepts to the field of environmental studies and contemporary environmental challenges, such as contaminated drinking water, nuclear plant accidents, environmental justice, etc. Corequisite: CHEM 106. Offered fall only. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

• ENVI 149 - Environmental Ethics & Policy

  Examination of the major philosophical issues surrounding the environment and nature. Topics may include the value of nature; human obligations to the land, endangered species, non-human animals, ecosystems and future generations; vegetarianism; aesthetics and the environment; environmental racism; global warming; resource depletion; implications of environmental issues for ethical theory. Offered regularly. 4 credits Levels: Undergraduate

• ENVI 206 - Geospatial Sensing - Part I

  This is the first of two lecture/lab courses of a two-semester sequence of research stream Geospatial Remote Sensing for FRI students. Students will be introduced to the theory, methods and techniques in geospatial remote sensing research while gaining an understanding of research problems in particular areas of environmental studies, geology, and anthropology. Pre-requisite: HARP 170. Offered every spring. 4 credits. Course fee applies. This course satisfies the requirement of CHEM 106 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory. Refer to the Schedule of Classes. Levels: Undergraduate

• ENVI 250 - Farm-to-Table Food

  Farm-to-table introduces students to the process by which food is produced, harvested and prepared. The course includes lectures but also frequent trips to the Binghamton University Acres site with hands-on training. The activities of the course will incorporate the planning and preparation of the Garden-to-Grill event held at Binghamton University Acres. Course topics include: seed starting, direct seeding, composting, harvesting, event preparation and planning, and garden winterization. Fall only. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

After You Graduate

Graduates can pursue a wide range of careers, including research in environmental science, positions within advocacy groups or consulting firms, environmental law and environmental education. There are opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Some students choose to pursue graduate or professional studies.

For more information, visit the Environmental Science BS and Environmental Studies BA website.